The Top 14 now has two clubs at its head. Winner of Lyon (38-23), La Rochelle returned to Toulouse, beaten with his team bis by Castres (26-24) on Saturday.
The Maritimes, who knew the stake of a success, very quickly took the lead thanks to Leyds (3rd) before West doubled the bet (40th). Despite two penalties, the LOU remained far behind at the break (20-6).
The two teams then surrendered in quick succession: Doumayrou scored the third try in La Rochelle (45th) then Tuisova allowed the Lyonnais to reduce the mark (63rd, 33-13).
Gourdon also went there for his test (67th), before a further reduction in the score of the Rhone, through Tuisova (70th, 38-13).
Barassi, with a new try (77th) allowed the Lyonnais to leave with a slightly less salty note, without however succeeding in recovering a bonus in the operation (38-23).
La Rochelle, on the contrary, made the good operation of the day, going up to the level of the Stade Toulousain.
Castres is relaunched
In the afternoon, Castres had relaunched in the race for the play-offs by surprising Toulouse (26-24). The Rouge et Noir certainly lined up a largely overhauled team, but the absences of Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont or Cheslin Kolbe do not explain everything.
Too unruly, the Toulouse fell for the fourth time this season away. Ugo Mola’s men, however, won the defensive bonus point, but insufficient to keep the lead of the Top 14.
For his part, Agen, the red lantern of the championship, with twenty defeats in as many games, can no longer save his head in Top 14.
Since Friday, the SUA, the lowest budget in the championship, has been relegated, without playing, to Pro D2 after Pau’s victory in front of Bayonne (43-33) which places the Section (13th, 36 pts) out of reach of an improbable return to lot-et-garonnais (14th, 2 pts).
Four of the seven matches scheduled for “supporters’ day” have been postponed: Montpellier – Toulon, Agen – Bordeaux-Bègles, Racing 92 – Stade français and Clermont – Brive.
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